Kathmandu: After extensive efforts, Nepal has secured its status as a member country of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the premier organization in the field of astronomy.
The Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) will serve as Nepal’s representative within the IAU. NASO President Suresh Bhattarai informed RSS that this recognition validates the initiatives undertaken in Nepal since 2007.
During the 32nd General Assembly of the IAU, which took place in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2024, Nepal was officially granted observer status. At the assembly, NASO’s project coordinator Manisha Dwa participated and delivered presentations on behalf of NASO.
President Bhattarai noted that the news of NASO’s recognition as the national member of the IAU was communicated via email by the newly elected IAU President and 2011 Nobel Prize laureate in Physics, Prof. Brian P. Schmidt.
In his email, he stated, “Following discussions and correspondence with the IAU, the Executive Committee has chosen NASO as the national member for Nepal, which is anticipated to represent the entire astronomical community of Nepal,” as reported by NASO.
President Bhattarai expressed optimism that this decision will enable Nepal to engage more robustly in the international astronomy community, foster global scientific collaboration, and create new opportunities in astronomy and space research.
This achievement is a source of pride for the Nepali scientific community. He emphasized that NASO is dedicated to effectively voicing Nepal’s interests in astronomy to the global astronomical community. Since 2007, NASO has been at the forefront of education, research, and public outreach in astronomy within Nepal.
The observer status granted by the IAU has opened doors for Nepal in terms of international collaboration, scientific knowledge exchange, and enhancing capabilities in space science. It also presents an opportunity for Nepal to become a national member of the IAU.